On Sunday 21st August 2011, the 26th edition of the World Youth Day was marked in Cuatro Vientos Airfied, Madrid. Two million young people from all over the world participated in the event, including over 600 from Malta and Gozo.
As they were gathering in the area the day before, the young people endured exraordinarily high temperatures in the afternoon and heavy rain in the evening to welcome Pope Benedict and spend the night in prayer with him.
Throughout the previous week, the pilgrims took part in an intense schedule celebrating culture and faith around the official theme “Planted and built up in Christ, firm in the faith” (Col 2,7).
The Maltese delegation took an active part in the programme with a very-well received concert by local band RiSe on the opening night. Musician Robert Galea also performed in three separate gigs while a number of youth groups organised animation of various international events. Bishop Mario Grech, too, delivered a series of lectures to English-speaking youth.
The Maltese young people were scattered across Madrid, following different schedules, but on Friday 19th they all came together in Santa Maria de Esperanza church to hold a Malta Day. The event was highly greeted by youth from other countries who were invited to attend.
Pope Benedict XVI announced in the closing ceremony that the next international World Youth Day will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2013.
